Stormy

As "Stormy" (2023 release; 110 min.) opens, it is "March 30, 2023" as Trump is criminally indicted for the hush payment made in Fall of 2016 to Stormy Daniels to cover up his affair with her in 2006. In 2018, the Wall Street Journal reports on the hush payment, and all hell breaks loose. We then go back in time as we learn of Stormy's troubled youth in Baton Rouge, LA... At this point we are 10 minutes into the documentary.

Couple of comments: let me state upfront that while of course I am aware of the hush payment and Trump's subsequent lying about it, I was not aware of all the details. Much of the footage in the documentary comes from 2018, detailing with the fallout after the WSJ's report. With Trump's and the White House's machination in full force and effect, it is literally a David v. Goliath battle: the President of the United States v. A porn star. Along the way we get almost unfettered access to what that felt like as it plays out in real life. Check out the media frenzy, and the enormous pressure Stormy faced (and still faces) from the MAGA world. It's absolutely insane. Meanwhile Trump continues to deny, deny, deny. But soon (in mid-April or so) the chickens are coming home to roost for Orange Jesus... Please note that the overall rating of this documentary here in IMDb (currently 5.2 stars) is grossly misleading, as there are hundreds of ratings but less than 10 reviews so far. Almost certainly much of these ratings have come from white trash Let's Go Brandon MAGA folks who have not seen the documentary, and are too dumb to recognize a quality documentary if it hit them in the face. ("Stormy" is currently rated a very respectable 71% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.)

"Stormy" started streaming on Peacock earlier this week, and I caught it last night. I was quite surprised how effective this documentary turned out to be. If you are interested in politics, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

Seeing the events of the time through Stormy Daniels' eyes is truly fascinating and not a little scary. The fear she experienced as a result of the hateful barrage of abuse is palpable. On top of this the dirty tricks from the powerful people she upset are really eye opening.

The film does not editorialize, instead letting the events speak for themselves. Stormy is not portrayed as anything but herself, certainly not as a hero, but as her personal life is slowly torn apart it's hard not to feel sorry for her despite her mistakes. What's clear is that she was abused, and then punished for it, and her family was torn apart by the flak. There are no winners here.

This movie shows that Stormy Daniels shows a huge amount of courage by standing up for herself against one of the most dangerous people in American history. The documentary remains fascinating throughout, because the story is fascinating throughout. I have a newfound respect for Stormy Daniels; where she came from, and where she got to by never giving up. Unfortunately, her story is not that different from too many women today who have suffered under men who would abuse them, and take them for granted. I hope this documentary broadcasts her story to many more people, so that they can know the truth of what happened to her.

As someone who is totally uncomfortable with what Stormy does for a living and political sex scandals from Clinton to Trump, I was amazed how impressed I was with her resilience as a woman and a mother on every level. She navigated a very difficult childhood and jumped on opportunities that came her way to survive. The unsavory porn business is one thing but that is Trumps world. Trump was friends with Epstein and seducing a 27-year-old Stormy with sex in exchange for furthering her career and reneging is despicable. Her story and strength are beyond just entertaining because it's a true story. Respect and thanks to her and the people who did such a great job on this documentary.

Well made, riveting, and an important piece of contemporary history. Bravery of a perfectly imperfect normal human being, rising to a level of bravery and persistent survivalism, that sets her apart and above the fray. In today's quicksand-like morass of gutless money and ego chasing humans, the non pretentious Stephanie Clifford/Stormy Daniels, lands somewhere in between the biblical figures of Tamar, Rahab, and the woman caught inn Adultery, in terms of an unlikely, but actual, human hero, human-in-distress, human being used by others, but continuing to fight and define and redefine where she is at, what are her goals, at each changing chapter in this historical drama unfolding before our eyes. My prayers and admiration for this woman and gratitude to her and the film makers and the honesty of herself and also to her ex-husband musician-guy, who along with Ms. Daniels, show love at both sides of a romance and marriage that both blossomed and then was crushed amidst all this, and the frailty of imperfect human choices evolving through this trial by fire.